News

June 30, 2009

Memorandum of Understanding between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

• This agreement establishes how ATF and ICE will work together on investigations of international firearms trafficking and possession of firearms by illegal aliens. 
• This agreement clarifies the notification process each agency is expected to follow while investigating the international trafficking of firearms, ammunition, explosives, weapons and munitions. Both agencies are committed to working together to reduce firearms-related violence along the U.S. border.
• When ATF and ICE interests overlap, this MOU will serve to coordinate how both will pursue their investigations cooperatively to optimize the use of resources and minimize the duplication of efforts.
• The MOU stipulates that ICE and ATF agents will proactively contact each other and offer to jointly work an investigation that impinges on the other’s primary jurisdiction.  The MOU brings expertise and added manpower to perfect possible prosecutions.
• The MOU will optimize the resources and minimize the duplication of efforts by each agency.  This agreement establishes a framework for both agencies to conduct investigations and share intelligence.
• ATF and ICE work very well together on the border and across the country. At no time has anything prevented our agencies from protecting the citizens of the United States.
• ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing federal firearms and explosives laws, and has the sole authority to regulate and inspect those two industries. ICE is the federal agency responsible for the enforcement of import, export and immigration laws. By working jointly to exercise these unique law enforcement authorities, the two agencies are well equipped to investigate gun law violations as they pertain to international firearms trafficking.